2006 BMW M5

SEAT SENSOR MAT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DISENGAGES WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED. THE DISENGAGING OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG POSES A GREAT DANGER FOR THE PASSENGER DUE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE M5 E60 SERIES, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF SAFETY. BMW CHARGES THE OWNER UP TO 5000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A CAR THAT'S UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY OR ANY PASSENGER. *TR

THE VEHICLE WARNING SYSTEM DISPLAYED A PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAULT WHICH DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS INITIALLY INTERMITTENT, BUT WITHIN ONE WEEK IS NOW PERMANENTLY DISPLAYED. A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN BY MY DEALER INDICATES A FAULT WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR(S). THIS SAME PROBLEM RESULTED IN A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS/YEARS, BUT APPARENTLY NOT THIS ONE FOR SOME REASON. THE DEALER QUOTED $2500 FOR THE REQUIRED REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. MEANWHILE, ANY PERSON IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIR BAG. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS REPORTING A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AS REPORTED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW NA MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE STATE MY VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL. I FIND THIS VERY ALARMING AND UNSAFE. MY VEHICLE FITS ALL PARAMETERS AS STATED BY THE RECALL DOCUMENTATION BUT I AM STILL LEFT IN THIS POSSIBLY UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN A PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AND RECALLED. PLEASE ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

THE DASHBOARD AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ACTIVATE WHENEVER ANYONE WOULD SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THEY EVENTUALLY WOULD GO OUT, BUT NOW ARE PERMANENTLY ON. THE CENTRAL COMPUTER DISPLAY ALSO PUTS OUT A SIMILAR TEXT WARNING MESSAGE WHENEVER I START UP THE CAR. IT CLAIMS THAT THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG ARE MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AND I PRESUME ARE NOW DISABLED. LOOKING INTO THIS, IT IS A FAULTY SENSOR MAT WITHIN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL (E60) IS PLAGUED WITH THIS ISSUE, AND BMW OFFERED A RECALL ON EARLY (2005 BUILD?) CARS, BUT HAS REFUSED COVERAGE FOR ANYONE ELSE ALTHOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MY CAR IS A 04/2006 BUILD. THE JOB HAS BEEN QUOTED FOR SOME AT THE DEALERSHIP UP TO $3,500 IN PARTS AND LABOR AND REQUIRES A WHOLE NEW SEAT BOTTOM (WHICH CONTAINS COMPLICATED HEATING, COOLING, ADJUSTMENT MECHANISMS, AND LEATHER). A FRIEND WITH A MUCH EARLIER MODEL (1999 BMW M3 COUPE) E36 HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IN < 100K MI, SO THIS IS NOT NEW TO BMW. *TR

MY FAMILY AND I WERE HEADING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CARS ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE ALONG WITH A LOUD KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO CAR TOWED TO BMW OF HONOLULU. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A ENGINE WHICH THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $35K FOR A NEW ENGINE. I THEN CALLED GETZINGER MOTORWERKES WHICH IS ANOTHER SHOP THAT WORKS ON BMW'S JUST TO GET A SECOND OPINION. AFTER DIAGNOSING MY CAR THE OWNER OF THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT IT WAS CRANK BEARINGS AND SINCE THEY WENT BAD THE MEDAL SHAVING WENT INTO MY ENGINE AND ALSO CAUSED THE VANOS PUMP TO GO BAD, HE THEN STATED THAT HE WAS JUST READING ABOUT THAT SAME ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF 2006 M5;S DUE TO THE FACT THAT ITS A BAD ENGINE DESIGN AND THAT THOSE PARTS WOULD GO BAD EVERY 60,000 MILES. TO REPLACE THOSE PARTS IT WOULD COST $8,000 IN PARTS ALONE. SO NOW I AM STUCK PAYING FOR A CAR THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE. I NOW LIVE IN ANOTHER STATE AND MY CAR IS STUCK IN HAWAII BECAUSE THE SHIPPING COMPANY WILL NOT SHIP IT IN THE CONDITION THAT ITS IN. *TR

MY VEHICLE HAS A LIGHT ON FOR AN AIR BAG HAVING A FAULT. AFTER VISITING THE BMW DEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A USUAL PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM IS THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SENSOR DETECTS IF THERE IS A PASSENGER SITTING OR THE SEAT IS VACANT. BMW HAS INFORMED ME THAT ITS A SIMPLE SENSOR, AND USUALLY WOULD HAVE A MINIMAL COST. BUT INSTEAD BMW WANTS TO CHARGE YOU FOR REPLACING THE ENTIRE SEAT. SO THE $20 SENSOR TURNS INTO A $4000 JOB. THE MOST INTERESTING THING, IS THAT BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO RECTIFY IT. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON, SHOWING AIR BAG OFF. "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" NOTE: FOR CURRENT RECALL JANUARY 2014, BMW STATES: "THE RECALL INVOLVES THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, OVER TIME, DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT USAGE, THE SENSOR CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DEACTIVATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG BECAME DEACTIVATED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE FRONT "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LAMP IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE ARE ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME." NOTE 2: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S SHOWING. IT WAS OFF YESTERDAY AND NOW ITS ON. THE 2006 E60 M5 IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT THE OTHER 2006-2007 5 SERIES ARE, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THE ERROR OCCURRING WITH THIS VEHICLE. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER ITS A SEAT SENSOR AND THE WHOLE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2000+. I THINK BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IN ENSURING THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED FOR OWNERS OF THESE OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES, BY THIS SEAT SENSOR ISSUE. CAR WAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR ON OR BEFORE NOV/2005. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON, SHOWING AIR BAG OFF. "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" NOTE: FOR CURRENT RECALL JANUARY 2014, BMW STATES: "THE RECALL INVOLVES THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, OVER TIME, DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT USAGE, THE SENSOR CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DEACTIVATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG BECAME DEACTIVATED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE FRONT "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LAMP IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE ARE ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME." NOTE 2: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S SHOWING. IT WAS OFF YESTERDAY AND NOW ITS ON. THE 2006 E60 M5 IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT THE OTHER 2006-2007 5 SERIES ARE THAT USE THE SAME AFFECTED PART ARE, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THE ERROR OCCURRING WITH THIS VEHICLE. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER ITS A SEAT SENSOR AND THE WHOLE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2000+. I THINK BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IN ENSURING THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED FOR OWNERS OF THESE OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES, BY THIS SEAT SENSOR ISSUE. CAR WAS MANUFACTURED ON 2/06. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,200. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON, SHOWING AIR BAG OFF. "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" NOTE: FOR CURRENT RECALL JANUARY 2014, BMW STATES: "THE RECALL INVOLVES THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, OVER TIME, DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT USAGE, THE SENSOR CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DEACTIVATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG BECAME DEACTIVATED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE FRONT "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LAMP IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE ARE ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME." NOTE 2: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S SHOWING. IT WAS OFF YESTERDAY AND NOW ITS ON. THE 2006 E60 M5 IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT THE OTHER 2006-2007 5 SERIES ARE, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THE ERROR OCCURRING WITH THIS VEHICLE. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER ITS A SEAT SENSOR AND THE WHOLE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2000+. I THINK BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IN ENSURING THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED FOR OWNERS OF THESE OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES, BY THIS SEAT SENSOR ISSUE. CAR WAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR ON OR BEFORE NOV/2005. *TR